Summary Statement

A training booklet that gives an overview of a variety of roadway hazards, such as electrical, falls, slips and trips and ergonomics. It is geared toward a new trainee. Part of a collection. Click on the 'collection' button to access the other items.
2002

This document is one in a program produced under an OSHA grant by a consortium of the Laborers' Health and Safety Fund N.A, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the American Road and Transportation Builders Assn, and the National Asphalt Pavement Assn. All of the documents from this set that are on eLCOSH can be found by clicking on Job Site, Heavy construction, and scrolling to the Street & highway heading. Or to download a complete version of the computerized program, go to https://www.workzonesafety.org/.

Introduction

Building roads and highways can be dangerous. Each
year about 7,500 highway construction workers get hurt
or sick. More than 80 highway construction workers are
killed on the job.

Our work doesn’t have to be dangerous if:

We are made aware of the hazards,

We are given ways to avoid the hazards,

We raise safety concerns with our supervisors.

Working together, we can make sure everyone
goes home safe and healthy.

Electrical Hazards

What Are the Dangers of Electricity?

Contact with electricity can cause explosion, fire, and
electrocution. Electricity can cause severe burns and
death.

Equipment contacting a live electrical line can cause
explosion, fire, or electrocution. Electricity can arc from
the line to equipment.

Work around electricity only:

when you are trained in all aspects of the job, and

when you have a reason to be there.

How Do We Treat Above-Ground Utilities?

Use extreme caution and keep
your distance when you must
work around above ground utilities.
The best practices are:

Get the utility company to
mark, flag, and shield line.

Assume the line is live until
it is tested. Have it
de-energized and visibly
grounded.

If the line must remain energized,
keep equipment and load at least 10 feet
away and use a spotter to warn the operator.

Minimum Safe Distances Power Lines

Voltage

Distance

50 kV or below

10

>50-200 kV

15

>200 - 350 kV

20

>350 - 500 kV

25

>500 - 750 kV

35

>750 - 1,000 kV

45

More in fog or rain

Post warning signs at ground level. Make anyone who
must enter the area aware of the overhead lines. Here
are two tips for operators:

Mark a safe route for repeated travel.

Slow down.

What If Contact Happens?

Do not touch equipment or a person in contact with
electricity. Get the line de-energized. If you are in a
vehicle that contacts electricity, stay in the vehicle and
do not contact any metal. If you must exit, jump clear
and slowly shuffle away. Keep your feet together to help
prevent current from running through your body.

Can We Be Safe Around Buried Utilities?

Before digging, call the electrical, gas, and communications
utilities. Review marked out areas. The mark out
may not be exact, so dig by
hand within 3 feet of it.

When digging, look for:

foreign debris in excavation,

changes in mixed-up soil
types,

asphalt patches or depressions
indicating previous
digging, and

concrete, plastic, or gravel.

Fall Hazards

What Causes Falls in Road Work?

Falls happen from one level to another or on the same
level. Most falls in road construction are slips or trips on
one level. Falls on walking/working surfaces include:

• Tripping over materials or debris.
• Falling on hills or embankments.
• Stepping in holes or walking on irregular ground.
• Stumbling while carrying loads that block vision.
• Slips or trips in muddy, wet, or icy conditions.

Less common falls from elevations include falls:

• From equipment.
• From bridges.
• From formwork.
• Into excavations.

How Do We Prevent Falls on Same Level?

Best protection practices include:

• Try to avoid muddy, wet, or icy surfaces.
• Use footwear with ankle
support and soles that
grip.
• Don't carry heavy loads.
Use hauling equipment.
• Practice good housekeeping.
Remove tools and
materials when not in use.
• Fill in or mark hidden holes in the ground.
• Clear walking and working surfaces of tripping hazards.
• Include walking routes in the site safety plan.

A very important way to keep yourself
from falling is to maintain good physical
strength and conditioning.

How Do We Avoid Falls From
Elevations?

Falls from elevations can be avoided
by many methods. Some good ways to avoid falls from
elevations include:

• The employer should have a 100% fall protection
program in place.
• Work should be pre-planned to provide for the use
of personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) anchor points
or guardrail systems.
• Erect guardrails around large
excavations.
• Wear seatbelts or restraints for
riding in cars, trucks, and personnel
carriers.
• Use modular form erection to
avoid work at heights on forms.
• Use 3-point contact.

Flagger Safety

What Is the Main Hazard of Flagging?

Motorists kill about 20 flaggers a year. Many more are
injured. Flagging can be dangerous due to:

• High speed traffic.
• Angry or aggressive drivers.

After seeing a flagger, a motorist going 60 mph needs
almost 400 feet to stop.

How Can We Protect Ourselves?

The best way to protect ourselves is to be visible and to
wear protective clothing.

• Stand alone on the shoulder
in clear view.
• Never stand in the open traffic
lane.
• Plan an escape route for emergencies.
• Stay alert, focused on work.
• Make sure your hand signals don’t conflict with the
traffic signals.
• Treat motorists with respect and courtesy. Don’t pick
fights or respond to anger. Notify law enforcement
when motorists do not obey.

Health Hazards

How Do Health Hazards Harm Us?

Toxic substances can enter the body by three routes:

• breathing,
• swallowing, and
• absorption through the skin.

The effects of toxic substances in the body may be:

• short-term (acute) — such as eye irritation or
dizziness, or
• delayed (chronic) — such as cancer or chronic lung
disease.

How Harmful Is Silica?

Silica is in many construction dusts such as concrete
and rock. Tasks that expose workers to large amounts
of silica include sand blasting, rock drilling, and concrete
drilling and grinding.

Long-term exposure to silica leads to lung disease
(silicosis). Long-term exposure also increases the risk
of cancer. You can prevent exposure to silica by:

Lead damages the nervous system and the reproductive
system. Lead may be found in paints during bridge
renovations. Lead dust and fume can be inhaled or
ingested during sandblasting, welding, and cutting. Lead
dust can be carried home on clothes and can poison
your family.

• Sleep deprivation and disruption.
• Risk of injury from drowsiness.
• Impaired family or social
relationships.

How Can We Protect Ourselves at Night?

Use special precautions at the work site for night work.
Above all, you must increase visibility and know your
surroundings.

To increase visibility:

• Wear retro-reflective clothing.
• Wear flashing lights on your
body or clothing.
• Place retro-reflective tape on
equipment.
• Use good work area lighting.

Know your surroundings:

• Know the vehicle and equipment paths.
• Know the assigned work areas.
• Know the safe paths to and from work.
• On foot, watch out for equipment.
• On equipment, watch out for workers.

Always provide clear signage. Space drums and cones
closer together at night. For the best lighting, contrast
the work lights from the warning lights.

Inspect the traffic control set up by test driving it to highlight
problems and then inspecting it frequently.

How Can Our Health Habits Help?

Night work is not normal. You must compensate and
your health habits can make a huge difference. On the
work site, eat protein-rich foods and avoid sugars and
fats. Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine.

At home, make sleep a priority.
Follow a pre-sleep routine and
have a light snack before bedtime.
Keep daylight out, even if you have
to install black out drapes. Eat family
meals together and plan daytime
social activities. That way, you’ll be
ready for sleep when you come
home from work.

Noise Hazards

Is Too Much Noise a Serious Problem?

If you are exposed to too much noise, you can lose your
hearing — and you can lose your life.

On the job, too much noise can distract you. You may
not hear warnings. Noise also damages the nerves in
the inner ears. These nerves cannot be repaired.

• Know the work zone and your position in it.
• Know the internal traffic control plan.
• Use designated equipment routes and areas.
• Identify rollover hazards.
• If you must move cones or barricades, return them to
their original positions as soon as possible.

How Can We Protect Other Workers?

Keep other workers in mind:

• Know the locations of other
workers around you.
• Set up a means of communication
with them.
• Never allow them to ride on
equipment.
• Provide barriers between workers
and equipment, when possible.
• Avoid excess speed and dangers
caused by hills, obstacles, and
curves.

Working Outdoors

What Is Our Risk
from Sun Exposure?

Skin cancer is the most serious
risk. You are at greater
risk if you have lighter skin
with freckles or moles. Work
at higher elevations and work
around relfective material like concrete or water also

• A long-sleeved shirt and pants in neutral colors.
• A broad-brimmed hat with a neck flap.
• Safety glasses with tinted polarizing lenses.
• SPF 15-25 sun block applied 30 minutes before
work and reapplied every 2 to 3 hours.
• Frequent checks of skin for early signs of cancer
and seeing a dermatologist for check-ups.

How Are Plants and Animals Hazardous?

Plants and animals can cause rashes, illness, and even
death. Outdoor work can expose you to animal bites, such
as from dogs or snakes, and to plants like poison ivy and
poison oak. To prevent problems:

Heat exhaustion treatment includes
resting in a cool, shaded place and
drinking plenty of water.

What Is Heat Stroke?

Heat stroke can cause hallucinations
and death. Symptoms are red
or spotted hot dry skin, no sweat,
chills, high body temperature, mental
confusion, and slurred speech.
Call 911. Remove the victim to a
cool shaded area. Soak clothes with
water. Fan the body and apply ice to
bring down temperature.

To protect yourself:

• Wear light-colored clothing.
• Gradually build up to heavy work.
• Schedule heavy work during coolest parts of day.
• Take more breaks in extreme heat and humidity.
• Drink lots of water, at least 2 to 3 quarts a day.

What Are the Hazards of Cold Weather?

Cold stress can lead to hypothermia and frostbite. Cold
stress is caused by a combination of cold or cool temperatures
(50o F or less), wet weather and/or conditions,
high winds (40+ MPH), and inadequate clothing.

Being struck is the biggest
danger in road work. Workers on
foot must remain alert at all times. Check
surroundings often. Listen for warnings. Keep a safe
distance from traffic. Stay behind barriers where possible.
Look out for each other. Warn coworkers.

• Proper class of safety
vest at all times in the
work zone.
• High-visibility clothing
and headgear.

What About Construction Equipment?

Treat equipment and vehicles
with caution:

• Stay out of "blind spots.”
• Communicate with operators
by radio and/or eye contact.
• Don't approach until you communicate
with the operator and he/she
acknowledges you.
• Stay outside a "safety circle"
around equipment. If you can’t see
the operator, he/she can’t see you.
• Stay clear of vehicles. Know the
traffic control plan.
• Use spotters when you must work
with your back to equipment or traffic.

Trees and equipment maintenance are also hazards.
To avoid being struck by trees, restrict worker access
during felling, trimming, loading. Use protective structures
on equipment. Use safe hoisting, rigging for logs
and limbs.

To avoid being struck by equipment parts, do
lockout/tagout and hazardous energy control
during maintenance, repair, cleaning,
and inspection.

Sprains & Strains

What Injuries Are Most
Common?

About 43% of lost work day injuries in
roadway construction are sprains and
strains. Common injuries include:

• Workers can be buried alive.
• Cave-ins can result from stresses in walls, nearby
moving vehicles and equipment, or spoil piles.
• Water can collect in the bottom.
• Flammable and toxic gases can build up.
• Gas from nearby sewer or gas lines can seep into
the trench.

Trenches more
than 4' deep
meet OSHA’s
definition of a
confined space.

How Do We Prevent Cave-Ins?

Protective systems are the methods or structures that
protect us from cave-ins. A protective system must suit
the soil type, the depth of the excavation, and other site
conditions. It must resist without failure all loads intended
or reasonably expected to be put on it.

The primary types of protective systems are:

• Sloping — soil angled to increase stability

• Benching — steps in the trench wall.

• Shoring — a support system made of posts, wales, struts, and sheeting or hydraulic shoring.

• Trench Shielding — a protective frame or box to protect rescue workers after a cave-in

Trenches 5 feet or deeper
require support unless they
are in stable rock.

What Else Does Trenching Require?

The employer must designate a 'competent person' in
every trench job. The ‘competent person’ must inspect:

• At least daily and at the beginning of each shift.
• After precipitation, a thaw, and other events that
could increase hazard.
• For disturbed ground, water, toxics, and other hazards.
• If walls sag or crack or if the bottom bulges.
• To keep spoil at least 2 feet from trench edge.
• If there are nearby vibration sources such as
railroads or piledriving.
• That no worker is more than 25 feet from an
exit ladder.

The 'competent person' should stop work if a hazard exists.

Competent person means "one who is capable of identifying
existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working
conditions ...
and who has authorization to take prompt
corrective measures to eliminate them."